burnt alive!" These words were regarded as prophetic. On the way to the stake, amid the jeers and excitements of • Jews and Greeks, followed by a few sorrowing friends, the venerable prisoner was calm and serene as sunlight; and when approaching the fatal scene, a loud and distinct voice. was heard to exclaim, as from heaven-"Polycarp, be firm!"

IGNATIUS, bishop of Antioch, and a loved and prominent disciple of the apostle John, is said to have been one of the little children whom Jesus took in his arms and blessed. The church fathers record the fact, that, in youth, he was "so innocent he could hear the angels sing." This heavenly music so impressed his mind, that, when becoming a bishop, he introduced into liturgical service the practice of singing in responses, just as he had heard, in youthful years, the laughing melodies of immortal choirs. Arrested by Trajan, he was thrown into chains, and sent to Rome, to be exposed to lions in the amphitheater. On the way thither, conscious of attending angels, inflamed with divine ecstacy, he exclaimed, in language worthy the heroic reformer-" Let them rack my limbs, break my bones, bruise my whole body, hang me on the cross, burn me with fire, throw me into the jaws of furious beasts; I care not for all the torments the devil can invent, so that I may have the consciousness of right, and the personal approval of Christ." When he passed through the city of Smyrna, in chains, the people embraced him and wept; kissing his hands, his garments, and his chains, rejoicing in his courage." How beautiful his character! how inspiring his example!

APOLLINARIS, the Ravennian bishop of note, according to the ecclesiastic historians, accompanied Peter, as an assistant, to Rome. Here that apostle laid his hands upon him, and communicated the gifts of the Holy Spirit; that is, a most excellent spirit influence. Preaching on the eastern coast of Italy, he is said to have silenced the oracles in Roman temples, and "caused deceiving spirits to depart therefrom." Attractive

in person, bold in enunciation, and miraculously gifted, he psychologized vast multitudes. Historians relate that he once saw a poor boy, born blind, washing his rags outside the city; and, moved with compassion, he made the sign of the cross on his eyes, (spiritual impressibility) and immediately he received his sight." This miracle, so potent for good, as we naturally infer from our own observation, was the means of converting the father, a Roman soldier, and all his household. Among the instances of his healing, may be mentioned that of a distinguished gentleman of Rome, for several years dumb, who, hearing of Apollinaris, sent for him, and was instantly cured. In this family, finding a case of obsession, he cast out a demon. This remarkable achievement converted the family, with five hundred more, to the spiritualistic principles of Jesus.

CHAPTER XVI.

POST-APOSTOLIC.

"Gather up the fragments that nothing be lost."

"Still gathering as they pour along,

The voice more loud, the tide more strong."

Like mile-posts on the panoramic highway of life, burning with many-colored lights, indicating the true line of spiritual progress, loom up in bold relief the church fathers of the succeeding centuries-Irenæus, Justin Martyr, Tatian the Assyrian, Turtullian, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Cyprian, and others-who officially represent the continuous revelations of heaven.

IRENEUS, whose name signifies peaceable, an admirer of the apostle John, was endowed with prophetic gifts. As quoted by Eusebius, those times were not so potent in spirit influx, as in the palmy days of the apostles; but in cases of necessity, when a whole congregation, by fasting and prayer, adjusted themselves in harmony with the spirit-batteries, the seeming dead have been restored to life. "Some most certainly," says Irenæus, "cast out demons; others have a knowledge of things to come, as also visions and prophetic communications; and others still heal the sick by the imposition of hands. * * * * We hear of many of the brethren in the church who have prophetic gifts, and whe speak in all tongues through the Spirit, (spirit-influences) and who also bring to light the secret things of men for their

benefit, and expound the mysteries of God." Eusebius, in referring to the reasons why these spiritual gifts had measurably declined in the church, in his time, asserts that "the churches had become unworthy of them."

JUSTIN MARTYR, of Grecian descent, familiar, in his youth, with the doctrines of Zeno and Aristotle, mingled, in after years, the acknowledged dogmas of the church with the Platonic philosophy. This Grecian culture the better prepared him to analyze the laws of mind and its relations with this and the spirit-world. With Philo, he declared that “no man had ever seen God the Father," but that "it was our Christ, or an angel, who spoke to Moses from the bush, in the form of fire, and said, 'Put off thy shoes."" In a book ascribed to Justin Martyr, it is stated that "demons, spirits of the dead, still speak by those who are called ventriloquists." In his famous Apology, he teaches that, "when God created the world, he committed the superintendence of it to angels." Maintaining the plausible doctrines of obsessions, he affirmed that evil demons "inflamed women, corrupted boys, and spread terrors among those who did not examine things by reason." Not realizing they were a lower order of spirits, "they called them gods, and gave to each the name he claimed for himself; but Socrates endeavored to expose their practices, and by true reason draw men away from their influences, and the demons, by the help of wicked men, caused this Grecian philosopher to be put to death as an atheist and impious person." According to certain phenomena of the present, does not this statement concerning Socrates bear the semblance of truth?

TERTULLIAN, son of a Roman centurion, at Carthage, 160 A. D., distinguished for his great eloquence, and for his familiarity with Grecian and Roman literature, positive and vindictive in nature, and given to controversy, was fearless in his affirmations of spiritual gifts and communications. In his celebrated work, "De Anima," he says: "We had a right to

expect, after what was said by St. John, to anticipate prophecies; and we not only acknowledge these spiritual gifts, but we are permitted to enjoy the gifts of a prophetess. There is a sister among us who possesses a faculty of revelation. Commonly, during religious service, she falls into a trance, holding then communion with the angels, beholding Jesus himself, hearing divine mysteries explained, reading the hearts of some persons, and administering to such as require it. When the Scriptures are read, or Psalms sung, spiritual beings minister visions to her. We were speaking of the soul once, when our sister was in the spirit (entranced); and, the people departing, she then communicated to us what she had seen in her ecstacy, which was afterwards closely inquired into and tested. She declared 'she had seen a soul in bodily shape, that appeared to be a spirit, neither empty nor formless, but so real and substantial, that it might be touched. It was tender, shining of the color of the air, but in everything resembling the human form.''

As an exhibition of Tertullian's ferocity of nature, positiveness of will, and assurance of spiritual ability, as well as faith in angel ministry, he says: "If a man calls himself a Christian, and cannot expel a demon, LET HIM BE PUT TO DEATH ON THE SPOT!" Referring to the controlling intelligences of Esculapius, Thanatius, and other oracles, he asserts, with fierce authority-" Unless these confess themselves to be demons, not daring to lie unto a Christian, then SHED THE BLOOD OF THAT MOST IMPOTENT CHRISTIAN!" To suit the action to the word, he commanded, "Let some one be brought forward at the foot of your judgment seat, who it is agreed is possessed with a demon. When ordered by any Christian to speak, that spirit shall as truly declare itself a demon, as elsewhere falsely a god." Tertullian, highly susceptible, was evidently controlled by a spirit on a very low plane; but being powerful and electric, he could easily dispossess any negative medium, even of a celestial angel. His success in this psychological art, was, therefore, no criterion of moral or religious superiority, but simply of